What is the name of cancer. What kind of disease: cancer. What causes a failure in the mechanism responsible for cell division
Sometimes people do not even think about the history of the origin of some of the terms we are used to. For example, a disease called cancer, which causes tremors throughout the body in people who suffer from carcinophobia. There is a deep meaning in the story, because there is a reason why cancer was called cancer.
Times of Hippocrates
The great Hippocrates described more than a thousand diseases that have come down to us. His eye has not bypassed cancer patients, in particular women who suffer from neoplasms in the mammary glands. But why is cancer called cancer?
History says that the great physician gave the name because of the characteristic compaction, which, according to Hippocrates, resembled arthropods. Cancer is called cancer in Latin, that's why cancer is called cancer. Since then, the disease was considered incurable, this continued until the beginning of the formation and development of surgery, when finally the doctors were able to remove the malignant formation.
The mechanism of occurrence of tumors
The science that studies the causes as well as the treatment of tumors is called oncology. The causes of the disease can be listed for a very long time, however, scientists agreed that the uncontrolled process of cell division is caused by their mutation. Substances causing change DNA cells are called carcinogens. Absolutely any substances act as carcinogens, it all depends individually on the person's genotype.
The viral theory of the origin of cancer has also been proven. According to her, there are certain viruses that can act on cells in such a way that they “cut out” a place in the DNA molecule responsible for apoptosis (cell death). These viruses include:
Numerous studies have proven the link between ionizing radiation and cancer. This is reasonable, since radioactive isotopes damage the DNA molecule, destroying its bonds. Food plays in a person's life important role, because without nutrients no living organism can survive. It is known that some products can activate the oncological process in an individual.
Treatment prospects
The most terrible part of medicine is oncology, the reasons for this lie in the prevalence and regular death of people. It is believed that every eighth inhabitant of the planet dies from this terrible disease. No one is immune from this, so the main investments of rich people are directed to projects that can find a panacea for cancer. It is known that a cancer cell behaves very aggressively, and to save a person on late stages almost impossible, that's why cancer was called cancer. After all, most often doctors manage to identify the development of the process already in the third stage.
Today, medicine is able to cure absolutely any cancer in the early stages. Exists effective treatment cancer patients, which positive effect, even real cancer (melanoma) scientists managed to overcome in the initial stage, until the tumor spread to the organs. Problem in medical world is the fact that cancer cells in the human body are formed every minute. True, the immune system and programmed cell death are able to stop the process on their own. However, for some people, a malfunction occurs in the body when the immune system stops fighting abnormal cells.
How to diagnose a disease?
The first criterion that pushes people to visit the doctor's office is a bulge or pain in different parts body. Ignoring a scheduled medical examination leads to the fact that doctors detect a tumor at a late stage. Carcinoma in the early stages gives common clinical manifestations:
Some tumors are manifested by a specific clinic, it all depends on histological structure neoplasms, localizations. That is why cancer is called cancer, because this is the only disease that does not have pronounced clinical manifestations, slowly killing a person. To make sure it's cancer, you need to do a biopsy, and only this study will be able to fully indicate the nature of the neoplasm.
In addition, as the DNA molecule was deciphered, scientists were able to identify oncological genes, which they called tumor markers. They allow you to ascertain the tendency to a particular type of cancer.
prevention methods
Prevention is the future of medicine. Mankind has learned to warn dangerous diseases through vaccination. Unfortunately, this could not be achieved with cancer cells, since here a completely different, more complex, developmental mechanism requires innovations in genetic engineering. It was possible to create a vaccine against cervical cancer, but it is at the stage of clinical trials and does not give a full guarantee that the disease will not be able to affect a woman.
One of the most sinister diagnoses of our time is malignant tumors. At an early stage of the disease, oncology is treated quite successfully. Curability is almost one hundred percent. But the most difficult thing is to identify the tumor in time: often they learn about it too late. Therefore, doctors advise to undergo examinations annually.
A large amount of information about malignant tumors is available to everyone. Have you ever wondered why cancer is called cancer. These questions come to mind almost from nowhere: why was the ladybug called that, why is the dragonfly called that, where did the names plantain come from, the Paralympic Games and much more.
History of the name of the disease
The name is so well-established, familiar that we do not even ask questions about its origin. The ancient Greek name for this disease is carcinoma, meaning a malignant tumor with perifocal inflammation. Hippocrates gave this name to the disease because of the similarity of the tumor with this type of arthropod. She clings to healthy tissues body like claws. offshoots developing tumor diverge from it to different organs, spreading the disease.
This name is still attached to oncological diseases. By the way, oncology oncos (Greek) is also a name given by Hippocrates.
This disease has been known since 1600 BC. Then the disease was considered incurable. In the first century BC. just starting to fight cancer at an early stage. This proposal was made by a physician from Rome, Aulus Cornelius Celsus. But even then, the treatment consisted only in removing the tumor by surgery. Late stages were not treated at all.
What you need to know about oncology
What we don't know about it terrible diagnosis? Here are some interesting facts that will help you get to know the "enemy in the face" better.
About the number of patients:
- over the past ten years, there have been twenty percent more cancer patients diagnosed;
- about 12 million new cancer patients are diagnosed every year in the world;
- almost three million cases of illness - due to poor nutrition and almost total absence physical activity;
- today cancer has become one of the most common causes of death in Russia;
- about 20 thousand people on the planet die every day from this disease;
- the majority of cancer patients (about 70 percent) are the population of states where the standard of living is low.
Most common causes that cause cancer:
- Improper nutrition;
- High body mass index;
- Lack of physical activity;
- Smoking;
- Alcohol;
- hereditary predisposition;
- Chemical carcinogens;
- Increased hormone levels;
- Presence of cancer.
Cancer Conditions:
1. Cancer cannot be contracted from someone. For the development of cancerous formations, a change in human DNA is necessary, leading to the "immortality" of the cell due to uncontrolled reproduction. Another condition for the development of oncology is a violation of immunity, that is, that part of it that directs the body to fight cancer cells.
2. Cancer is not inherited, although heredity plays a big role in the predisposition to oncological pathologies.
What determines the possibility of a complete cure:
- From the type of tumor;
- From the stage of development of the disease, when the diagnosis was made;
- From accurate diagnosis;
- From correctly prescribed treatment;
- From being in the hospital necessary equipment and qualified medical staff.
Most cancer patients are elderly. With age, the likelihood of the disease increases. But the worst thing is when children suffer from cancer. Be healthy.
One of the most sinister diagnoses of our time is malignant tumors. At an early stage of the disease, oncology is treated quite successfully. Curability is almost one hundred percent. But the most difficult thing is to identify the tumor in time: often they learn about it too late. Therefore, doctors advise to undergo examinations annually.
A large amount of information about malignant tumors is available to everyone. Have you ever wondered why cancer is called cancer. These questions come to mind almost from nowhere: why was the ladybug called that, why is the dragonfly called that, where did the names plantain come from, the Paralympic Games and much more.
History of the name of the disease
The name is so well-established, familiar that we do not even ask questions about its origin. The ancient Greek name for this disease is carcinoma, meaning a malignant tumor with perifocal inflammation. Hippocrates gave this name to the disease because of the similarity of the tumor with this type of arthropod. It clings to healthy body tissues like claws. The processes of a developing tumor diverge from it to different organs, spreading the disease.
This name is still attached to oncological diseases. By the way, oncology oncos (Greek) is also a name given by Hippocrates.
This disease has been known since 1600 BC. Then the disease was considered incurable. In the first century BC. just starting to fight cancer at an early stage. This proposal was made by a physician from Rome, Aulus Cornelius Celsus. But even then, the treatment consisted only in removing the tumor by surgery. Late stages were not treated at all.
What you need to know about oncology
What do we not know about this terrible diagnosis? Here are some interesting facts that will help you get to know the "enemy in the face" better.
About the number of patients:
- over the past ten years, there have been twenty percent more cancer patients diagnosed;
- about 12 million new cancer patients are diagnosed every year in the world;
- almost three million cases of illness due to poor nutrition and almost complete lack of physical activity;
- today cancer has become one of the most common causes of death in Russia;
- about 20 thousand people on the planet die every day from this disease;
- the majority of cancer patients (about 70 percent) are the population of states where the standard of living is low.
The most common causes of cancer are:
- Improper nutrition;
- High body mass index;
- Lack of physical activity;
- Smoking;
- Alcohol;
- hereditary predisposition;
- Chemical carcinogens;
- Increased hormone levels;
- The presence of precancerous diseases.
Cancer Conditions:
1. Cancer cannot be contracted from someone. For the development of cancerous formations, a change in human DNA is necessary, leading to the "immortality" of the cell due to uncontrolled reproduction. Another condition for the development of oncology is a violation of immunity, that is, that part of it that directs the body to fight cancer cells.
2. Cancer is not inherited, although heredity plays a big role in the predisposition to oncological pathologies.
What determines the possibility of a complete cure:
- From the type of tumor;
- From the stage of development of the disease, when the diagnosis was made;
- From accurate diagnosis;
- From correctly prescribed treatment;
- From the availability of the necessary equipment and qualified medical staff in the hospital.
Most cancer patients are elderly. With age, the likelihood of the disease increases. But the worst thing is when children suffer from cancer. Be healthy.
- and non-small cell lung cancer. These types are diagnosed based on how the cells look under a microscope. Based on the established type, treatment options are selected. To understand disease prognosis and survival, here are the US open source statistics for 2014 for both types of lung cancer together: New cases (prognosis: 224,210 Predicted deaths: 159,260 Let's take a closer look at both types, specifics and treatment options. "> Lung Cancer 4
- in the US in 2014: New cases: 232,670 Deaths: 40,000 Breast cancer is the most common non-skin cancer among women in the US (open sources estimate that 62,570 cases of pre-invasive diseases (in situ, 232,670 new cases of invasive disease, and 40,000 deaths.Thus, less than one in six women diagnosed with breast cancer dies from the disease.In comparison, about 72,330 American women are estimated to die from lung cancer in 2014. Breast Cancer glands in men (yes, yes, there is such a thing. It accounts for 1% of all breast cancer cases and deaths from this disease. Widespread screening has increased the incidence of breast cancer and changed the characteristics of cancer being detected. Why did it increase? Yes, because the use of modern methods allowed to detect the incidence of low risk cancer, premalignant lesions and in situ ductal cancer (DCIS). hormone therapy in postmenopausal women and mammography. IN last decade, women abstain from the use of postmenopausal hormones and the incidence of breast cancer has decreased, but not to the level that can be achieved with widespread use mammography. Risk and protective factors Increasing age is the most important risk factor for breast cancer. Other risk factors for breast cancer include the following: Family history o Underlying genetic susceptibility Sexual mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, and other breast cancer susceptibility genes Alcohol consumption Breast tissue density (mammographic) Estrogen (endogenous: o Menstrual history (onset of menses) / Late menopause o No history of childbirth o Elderly age at first child birth History of hormone therapy: o Estrogen and progestin combination (HRT oral contraception Obesity Absence exercise Personal history of breast cancer Personal history of proliferative forms of benign breast disease Radiation exposure of the breast Of all women with breast cancer, 5% to 10% may have germline mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Studies have shown that specific BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations are more common in women. Jewish origin. Men who carry the BRCA2 mutation also have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Mutations in both the BRCA1 gene and BRCA2 also create an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer or other primary cancers. Once BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations have been identified, it is desirable for other family members to get genetic counseling and testing. Protective factors and measures to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer include the following: Use of estrogen (especially after a hysterectomy) Establishing an exercise habit Early pregnancy Breast-feeding Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) Aromatase inhibitors or inactivators Reduced risk of mastectomy Reduced risk of oophorectomy or ovariectomy Screening Clinical trials have found that screening asymptomatic women with mammography, with or without clinical breast examination, reduces breast cancer mortality. If breast cancer is suspected, the patient should usually go through the following steps: Confirmation of the diagnosis Evaluation of the stage of the disease Choice of therapy Next tests and procedures used to diagnose breast cancer: Mammography. Ultrasound. Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI, if clinically indicated. Biopsy. Contralateral breast cancer Pathologically, breast cancer can be multicentric and bilateral. risk of primary breast cancer in the contralateral breast ranges from 3% to 10%, although endocrine therapy may reduce this risk Development of second breast cancer is associated with an increased risk of distant recurrence When a BRCA1/BRCA2 gene mutation has been diagnosed in before the age of 40 years, the risk of second breast cancer in the next 25 years reaches almost 50%.Patients diagnosed with breast cancer should have bilateral mammography at the time of diagnosis to rule out synchronous disease.The role of MRI in contralateral breast cancer screening and monitoring of women treated with breast preservation therapy continues to evolve. Because the elevated level detection of possible disease on mammography has been demonstrated, the selective use of MRI for adjunctive screening occurs more frequently, despite the absence of randomized controlled data. Because only 25% of MRI-positive findings represent malignancy, pathologic confirmation is recommended prior to initiating treatment. Whether this increase in the rate of disease detection will lead to improved treatment outcomes is unknown. Prognostic factors Breast cancer is usually treated with various combinations of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy. Conclusions and selection of therapy may be influenced by the following clinical and pathological features (based on conventional histology and immunohistochemistry): Patient's climacteric status. Disease stage. Grade of the primary tumor. Tumor status depending on the status of estrogen receptors (ER and progesterone receptors (PR. Histological types). Breast cancer is classified into different histological types, some of which are of prognostic value.For example, favorable histological types include colloidal, medullary, and tubular cancer.The use of molecular profiling in breast cancer includes the following: ER and PR status testing. HER2/Neu status Based on these results, breast cancer is classified as: Hormone receptor positive HER2 positive Triple negative (ER, PR and HER2/Neu negative Although some rare hereditary mutations, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, predispose to the development of breast cancer in carriers of the mutation, but prognostic data for carriers of the BRCA1 /BRCA2 mutation are controversial; these women are simply at greater risk of developing second breast cancer. But it is not certain that this can happen. Hormone Replacement Therapy After careful consideration, patients with severe symptoms may be treated with hormone replacement therapy. Follow-up The frequency of follow-up and the appropriateness of screening after completion of primary treatment for stage I, stage II, or stage III breast cancer remain controversial. Data from randomized trials show that periodic follow-up with bone scans, liver ultrasound, radiography chest and blood tests for liver function does not improve survival or quality of life at all compared to routine physical exams. Even when these tests allow early detection of recurrence of the disease, this does not affect the survival of patients. Based on these data, limited follow-up and annual mammography for asymptomatic patients treated for stage I to III breast cancer may be an acceptable follow-up. More detailed information in articles: "> Mammary cancer5
- , ureters, and proximal urethra are lined with a specialized mucous membrane called transitional epithelium (also called urothelium. Most cancers that form in the bladder, renal pelvis, ureters, and proximal urethra are transitional cell carcinomas(also called urothelial carcinomas, derived from transitional epithelium. Transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder can be low-grade or high-grade: Low-grade bladder cancer often recurs in the bladder after treatment, but rarely invades the muscular walls of the bladder or spreads to others parts of the body Patients rarely die from low-grade bladder cancer High-grade bladder cancer usually recurs in the bladder and also has a strong tendency to invade the muscular walls of the bladder and spread to other parts of the body High-grade bladder cancer is considered more aggressive than low-grade bladder cancer and are much more likely to die Almost all deaths from bladder cancer are due to high-grade cancers Bladder cancer is also divided into muscle-invasive and non-muscle-invasive disease based on invasion into the muscular mucosa (also referred to as the detrusor mucosa, which is located deep in the muscular wall of the bladder. Muscle-invasive disease is much more likely to spread to other parts of the body and is usually treated either by removing the bladder or treating the bladder with radiation and chemotherapy. As noted above, high-grade cancers are much more likely to be muscle-invasive cancers than low-grade cancers. Thus, muscle-invasive cancer is generally considered to be more aggressive than non-muscle-invasive cancer. Non-muscle invasive disease can often be treated by removing the tumor using a transurethral approach and sometimes chemotherapy or other procedures that medicine injected into the bladder cavity with a catheter to help fight cancer. Cancer can occur in the bladder in conditions of chronic inflammation, such as a bladder infection caused by the parasite haematobium Schistosoma, or as a result of squamous metaplasia; The incidence of squamous cell bladder cancer is higher in chronically inflammatory conditions than otherwise. In addition to transitional carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, small cell carcinoma, and sarcoma can form in the bladder. In the United States, transitional cell carcinomas constitute the vast majority (over 90% of bladder cancers). However, a significant number of transitional carcinomas have areas of squamous or other differentiation. Carcinogenesis and Risk Factors There is strong evidence for the effect of carcinogens on the occurrence and development of bladder cancer. The most common risk factor for developing bladder cancer is cigarette smoking.It is estimated that up to half of all bladder cancers are caused by smoking and that smoking increases the risk of developing bladder cancer in two to four times the baseline risk.Smokers with less functional polymorphism N-acetyltransferase-2 (known as a slow acetylator) have a higher risk of developing bladder cancer compared to other smokers, apparently due to a reduced ability to detoxify carcinogens. Some occupational hazards, have also been associated with bladder cancer, and higher rates of bladder cancer have been reported due to textile dyes and rubber in the tire industry; among artists; workers of leather processing industries; shoemakers; and aluminium-, iron- and steelworkers. Specific chemicals associated with bladder carcinogenesis include beta-naphthylamine, 4-aminobiphenyl, and benzidine. Although these chemicals are now generally banned in Western countries, many other chemicals that are still in use are also suspected of initiating bladder cancer. Exposure to the chemotherapy agent cyclophosphamide has also been associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer. Chronic urinary tract infections and infections caused by the parasite S. haematobium are also associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer, and often squamous cell carcinoma. Chronic inflammation is believed to play a key role in the process of carcinogenesis under these conditions. Clinical signs Bladder cancer usually presents with simple or microscopic hematuria. Less commonly, patients may complain of frequent urination, nocturia, and dysuria, symptoms that are more common in patients with carcinoma. Patients with urothelial cancer of the upper urinary tract may experience pain due to tumor obstruction. It is important to note that urothelial carcinoma is often multifocal, necessitating examination of the entire urothelium if a tumor is found. In patients with bladder cancer, imaging of the upper urinary tract has importance for diagnosis and follow-up. This can be achieved with ureteroscopy, retrograde pyelogram in cystoscopy, intravenous pyelogram, or computed tomography (CT urogram). In addition, patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract are at high risk of developing bladder cancer; these patients need periodic cystoscopy and observation of opposite upper urinary tracts Diagnosis When bladder cancer is suspected, cystoscopy is the most useful diagnostic test. CT scan or ultrasound is not sensitive enough to be useful in detecting bladder cancer. Cystoscopy can be performed in a urological clinic. If cancer is found during cystoscopy, the patient is usually scheduled for a bimanual examination under anesthesia and a repeat cystoscopy in the operating room so that transurethral resection of the tumor and/or biopsy can be performed. Survival Patients who die from bladder cancer almost always have bladder metastases to other organs. Low-grade bladder cancer rarely grows into the muscular wall of the bladder and rarely metastasizes, so patients with low-grade (Stage I bladder cancer) very rarely die from the cancer. However, they may experience multiple recurrences that need to be treated. resections.Almost all deaths from bladder cancer occur among patients with disease with high level malignancy, which has a much greater potential to invade deep into the muscular walls of the bladder and spread to other organs. Approximately 70% to 80% of patients with newly diagnosed bladder cancer have superficial bladder tumors (i.e. stage Ta, TIS, or T1). The prognosis of these patients depends largely on the grade of the tumor. Patients with tumors high degree malignancies have a significant risk of dying from cancer, even if it is not a muscle-invasive cancer. Those patients with high-grade tumors who are diagnosed with superficial, non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer in most cases have a high chance of being cured, and even in the presence of muscle-invasive disease, sometimes the patient can be cured. Studies have shown that in some patients with distant metastases, oncologists have achieved a long-term complete response after treatment with a combination chemotherapy regimen, although in most of these patients, metastases are limited to their lymph nodes. Secondary Bladder Cancer Bladder cancer tends to recur even if it is non-invasive at the time of diagnosis. Therefore, it is standard practice to monitor urinary tract after a diagnosis of bladder cancer. However, studies have not yet been conducted to assess whether observation affects progression rates, survival, or quality of life; although there are clinical trials to determine the optimal follow-up schedule. Urothelial carcinoma is thought to reflect a so-called field defect in which the cancer is due to genetic mutations, which are widely represented in the patient's bladder or throughout the urothelium. Thus, people who have had a resected bladder tumor often subsequently have ongoing tumors in the bladder, often in locations other than the primary tumor. Similarly, but less frequently, they may develop tumors in the upper urinary tract(i.e., in the renal pelvis or ureters. An alternative explanation for these patterns of recurrence is that cancer cells that are destroyed when the tumor is resected may be reimplanted elsewhere in the urothelium. Support for this second theory that tumors are more likely to recur lower than in the opposite direction from initial cancer. Upper urinary tract cancer is more likely to recur in the bladder than bladder cancer will replicate in the upper urinary tract. The rest in the following articles: "> bladder cancer4
- and an increased risk of metastatic disease. The degree of differentiation (determining the stage of tumor development has an important influence on the natural history of this disease and on the choice of treatment. An increase in cases of endometrial cancer has been found due to prolonged, unopposed exposure to estrogen (increased levels. In contrast, combination therapy(estrogen + progesterone prevents the increased risk of endometrial cancer associated with the lack of resistance to the effects of specific estrogen. Receiving a diagnosis is not the best time. However, you should know - endometrial cancer is a curable diseases. Follow the symptoms and everything will be fine! In some patients, a previous history of complex hyperplasia with atypia may play a role as an "activator" of endometrial cancer. An increase in the incidence of endometrial cancer has also been found in association with the treatment of breast cancer with tamoxifen. According to researchers, this is due to the estrogenic effect of tamoxifen on the endometrium. Because of this increase, patients on tamoxifen therapy should be required to undergo regular pelvic examinations and be alert for any pathological findings. uterine bleeding. Histopathology The spread of malignant endometrial cancer cells depends in part on the degree of cellular differentiation. Well-differentiated tumors tend to limit their spread to the surface of the uterine mucosa; myometrial expansion occurs less frequently. In patients with poorly differentiated tumors, invasion of the myometrium is much more common. Invasion of the myometrium is often a harbinger of a lesion lymph nodes and distant metastases, and often depends on the degree of differentiation. Metastasis occurs in the usual way. Spread to the pelvic and para-aortic nodes is common. When distant metastases occur, it most often occurs in: Lungs. Inguinal and supraclavicular nodes. Liver. Bones. Brain. Vagina. Prognostic factors Another factor that is associated with ectopic and nodular tumor spread is the involvement of the capillary-lymphatic space in the histological examination. Three prognostic groupings clinical stage I were made possible by careful operational staging. Patients with a stage 1 tumor involving only the endometrium and no evidence of intraperitoneal disease (i.e. adnexal extension) are at low risk (">Endometrial Cancer 4
Cancer - common and severe curable disease. The site channel decided to figure out what cancer really is, what are the first signs and symptoms of malignant neoplasms, what are the methods for diagnosing them and what treatment can be. All the details in our material.
Cancer- this is not a sentence. The main thing is the desire to fight. When making a diagnosis, you should not give up, you need to go forward and achieve necessary treatment. Also, do not plunge into the world of placebo and self-medicate. Belief in a miracle for a cure for cancer is certainly important and helps in this unequal struggle for life, but traditional medicine should not be relegated to the background. Proper Treatment can only be prescribed by a qualified physician.
As you know, oncologists are against all kinds of dietary supplements, herbs, tinctures, mushrooms and other alternative treatment: luminaries of medicine believe in the power of science. Moreover, some traditional medicines can aggravate the health condition. For example, freshly squeezed grapefruit juice can block some enzymes contained in medicines against cancer. IN there was even a case in the history of medicine when a doctor advised patients to treat oncology with ordinary soda, because he was sure that cancer is fungal disease. After the death of several patients, his license was, of course, taken away. But such cases of treatment non-traditional methods there are still huge numbers. Don't lose your head and contact qualified specialists. Now let's figure it out - what is cancer really?
Cancer - what is it?
Cancer- This common name all cancers. Any oncology consists in the appearance and further uncontrolled growth of "wrong" cells. Their DNA is damaged, and instead of dying, these cells begin to grow rapidly. However, they have the ability to infiltrate various fabrics and organs, thereby spreading throughout the body. Cells with damaged DNA are "immortal" and can no longer perform their intended functions. Scientists and doctors still cannot name the causes of DNA damage, i.e. why cancer appears is unknown.
Why can a cancerous tumor lead to death?
The fact is that the wrong mutated cells, spreading throughout the body, "settle" in various organs, squeezing and damaging the surrounding tissues. This leads to dysfunction of the infected organs. Most often, the patient dies due to the cessation of the work of vital organs.
How to identify and identify the first signs of cancer?
General oncological signs and symptoms of cancer:
Constant fatigue and fatigue
Loss of appetite
Sudden weight loss without good reason
At more advanced stages (when metastases spread in the body), pain syndrome appears
Temperature increase
Violation of the stool and bladder function
Non-healing wounds
Unusual discharge and bleeding
Seals and neoplasms
Prolonged cough
Now let's look at more specific symptoms.
For suspected brain cancer:
- severe headache in a specific area of the head, may increase with sudden movements, occur during stress and physical exertion
Vomiting, usually in the morning, without previous nausea and regardless of meals
Dizziness that occurs with a certain position of the head
Violations of memory, thinking, perception, irritability, aggression, apathy, even delirium and hallucinations are possible
Seizures without apparent cause
Blurred vision, blurred and flickering flies
Partial loss of sensation, balance disorders, speech disorder and hearing loss are also possible.
Diagnostics
During diagnostics and examinations, it is very difficult to detect a brain tumor due to its location. On initial stages the development of a malignant neoplasm, symptoms may be minor or absent altogether. Most often, when contacting a doctor, the patient already has obvious signs, and this, as a rule, advanced stage. The examination includes MRI, CT, electroencelogram. At early detection malignant brain tumor and timely treatment, survival in the first five years averages 70%.
For suspected colon cancer:
Tumors of the rectum and colon are very similar in many ways, and they are called colorectal cancer. In addition to a high mortality rate, there is a serious deterioration in the quality of life after surgery.
Appear:
Stomach ache
stool disorder
Bloating and rumbling in the abdomen
The appearance of blood in the stool
Decreased appetite and weight loss
Pallor
Weakness and fatigue
Temperature increase
Diagnostics
Diagnosis is necessary to identify the tumor and immediately begin treatment. First of all, it is necessary to periodically check with a gastroenterologist and be sure to undergo a fecal occult blood test. This is especially true for those over 40. For a more detailed study, the following can be prescribed:
Irrigoscopy (X-ray of the intestine with a contrast agent, which is administered with an enema)
Sigmoidoscopy (using a special apparatus, the intestines are examined no more than 30 cm from the inside)
Colonoscopy (the procedure is similar to the previous one, while looking at about a meter)
During the last two, a biopsy may be performed.- taking a small piece of intestine for detailed examination.
Try to treat colitis in a timely manner, remove polyps in time and fight constipation. They can cause swelling.
For suspected lung cancer:
In addition to the main symptoms, with possible lung cancer, signs such as:
Prolonged cough
Hemoptysis
Dyspnea
Recurrent bronchitis and pneumonia
Pain in the chest
The main cause of lung cancer, as a rule, is the inhalation of toxic substances and carcinogens for a long time. Most cases are related to smoking. Tobacco smoke contains a huge amount of carcinogens that lead to the appearance of tumors. Those who smoke more than two packs of cigarettes per day are at especially high risk of developing lung cancer. Another common cause of the disease is running forms pneumonia and tuberculosis and their frequent relapses.
Diagnostics
The main way to diagnose lung cancer is fluorography, which must be done once a year. To confirm the diagnosis, chest radiography, endoscopic bronchography, PET-CT, and biopsy are practiced.
At right choice treatment and detection of the disease at an early stage, the survival rate, as a rule, is 45-60%.
For suspected breast cancer:
- compaction of the mammary gland. It is painless and does not change shape depending on the menstrual cycle.
Changing the shape of the nipple and breast
The appearance of dimples on the skin, when raising the arms above the head
Change in the structure of the mammary gland, wrinkling and retraction
Appearance spotting from the nipple
Enlarged lymph nodes in the armpit
Diagnostics
The most common diagnostic method is mammography (X-ray of the breast). Women should regularly examine their breasts on their own, consult a doctor at the first changes. Women over 40 should see a mammologist every year. It is this kind malignant tumors the most common in the female half of humanity. Only half of women after appropriate treatment live five years or more, without treatment, the five-year survival rate is 12-15 percent.
For suspected cervical cancer:
In the early stages, the disease is painless and asymptomatic. In later stages, you may experience:
Bloody discharge after intercourse, heavy lifting, douching
Pain in the sacrum, lower back and lower abdomen
Pain in the back and legs, swelling, disorders of the genitourinary system
Diagnostics
Mandatory includes an examination by a gynecologist, during which digital examination vagina, examination of the cervix with the help of gynecological mirrors and colposcopy. A biopsy may also be performed for further detailed examination. In addition, there is a special test that helps to identify a malignant tumor when examining a smear from the vagina.
Scientists believe that there is a direct link between cervical cancer and the human papillomavirus. According to studies, in 100% of cases of detection of cervical cancer in a patient, HPV is also present, and in 70% it has strains 16 and 18.
The causes of this type of tumor are: early sex life(up to 16 years), early pregnancy and childbirth (up to 16 years), unprotected sexual intercourse and promiscuity, abortion, inflammation of the female genital organs, smoking, the use of hormonal contraceptives, impaired immunity.
Risk factors for cancer:
Elderly age
Poor heredity (close relatives had malignant tumors)
Bad ecology
Improper nutrition (transgenic fats, lack of fiber, etc.)
Work with cadmium can provoke cancer (welding and printing work, rubber production)
Do not be lazy to undergo an annual examination by specialists. Particular attention should be paid to the prevention of those whose close relatives have died from this disease. terrible disease.
Cancer treatment
After staging accurate diagnosis The main challenge for physicians is complete removal malignant cells through surgical intervention or medical treatment.
Unfortunately, no diagnostic method can completely exclude the presence of malignant cells. Even the most modern devices, like PET-CT, are unable to detect tumors less than 1 mm in diameter.
And, of course, in our country you need to be prepared for the misadventures of free medicine.
Remember- Your health is in your hands, because the consequences of your carelessness can be the most terrible.
FAQ:
Why is cancer called cancer?
The name of this disease was given by Hippocrates. And initially he called oncological diseases "carcinoma", which means "spreading inflammation". The term cancer appeared a little later, due to the fact that outwardly the tumor looks like a crab.
Is it possible to get cancer from a sick person?
Definitely not. oncological disease not contagious
Is cancer hereditary?
There is no direct transmission of the disease. However, when diagnosing, the doctor always asks if there were malignant neoplasms from one of the relatives. This must be taken into account, because there is hereditary predisposition to this disease.
Cancer prevention
You should adhere to the correct daily routine, proper nutrition, eat more vegetables and fruits. Some believe that we should try to exclude products containing GMOs.
Of course, it is much easier to prevent a disease than to cure it, but even if all preventive action 100% exclude the appearance of malignant neoplasms- it is forbidden.
For reference:
MRI(Magnetic resonance imaging)allows you to study internal organs and human bones and visualize them. The principle of operation is that the device captures the response of the nuclei of hydrogen atoms that are in the human body, using a special combination of electromagnetic waves in a permanent magnet field of high intensity.
Main plus- the ability to detect cancer even at the earliest stages. The difference from X-ray and CT is the absence of ionizing radiation, which can lead to massive cell death. There are contraindications for MRI.
CT(CT scan)- layer-by-layer diagnostics of the human body using x-rays. The volume of radiation is strictly fixed by the apparatus. The procedure is carried out in a few minutes. In some cases, it is possible to study with the introduction contrast agent, which helps to increase the amount of information received.
Biopsy - taking a small piece of tissue for research. Used as a hollow needle for a small piece of fabric, and surgical removal education completely. Ultrasound, MRI, CT, or fluoroscopy are sometimes used to clarify the location of suspicious cells.
Histology - Examination of tissues after sampling. It is an important element in the diagnosis of cancer.
Chemotherapy - This is the treatment of malignant tumors with poisons and toxins that inhibit the growth, spread and disrupt the division of tumor cells. Drug treatment is prescribed only by an oncologist in accordance with the development of the disease. There are preoperative, postoperative, prophylactic and curative types of chemotherapy. The form distinguishes chemotherapy in tablets and injections (subcutaneous, intravenous and intramuscular). Side effects: baldness, nausea, vomiting, death of part of the blood cells, weakness, damage to the mucous membranes, anemia, changes in the skin and nails, swelling, bleeding, etc.
Radiation therapy (radiotherapy) — impact on cancer cells by ionizing (X-ray) radiation. Large dose radiation stops the development of tumor cells. Allows targeted action on malignant neoplasms, unlike chemotherapy, where you have to "poison" the entire body. Side effects: weakness, nausea, hair loss, decreased immunity.
The materials are intended for information
should not be used for self-diagnosis and treatment
and cannot be a substitute for a face-to-face consultation with a doctor.
